The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2017

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2017: Help to Remember the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

Could you help to raise £30,000 in just 7 days to repair the iconic Grade 2* listed War Memorial?

Gloucester Cathedral is delighted to announce that it is taking part in the nation’s biggest matching online fundraising initiative, The Big Give Christmas Challenge. The seven day challenge gives supporters the unique opportunity to DOUBLE the value of their donations, with all proceeds going towards the crucial repair of the memorial located within the Cathedral’s historic grounds.

The Cathedral aims to raise £30,000 to repair the memorial which is dedicated in memory of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. Vandalism and erosion has badly damaged the stonework and specialist cleaning is required to remove biological growths and dirt. Improvements to the setting are also needed to make it safe and accessible for all.

Between 12noon on 28 November and 12noon on 5 December, any donation made online through the Big Give website will be matched pound-for-pound from a £15,000 fund provided by independent supporters, including the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Charitable Trust which has already pledged £5,000 towards the campaign.

“The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars War Memorial stands as a monument to the sacrifice of local soldiers who lost their lives in the World Wars, but sadly it is in desperate need of repair.

We now have an extraordinary opportunity to raise the money needed to ensure that current and future generations continue to remember the sacrifice they made.Crucially, it will also mean the memorial is restored in time for World War One Centenary commemorations in 2018.

Please consider helping us to restore this important monument; no matter how much you give, it will be worth twice as much if you give at the right time.”

John Penley OBE TD, Honorary Colonel of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars said:

“The War Memorial for the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars on College Green has been the focal point for remembering those who gave their lives in two World Wars to preserve the freedoms we enjoy and all too often take for granted today.

The famous bronze reliefs by Adrian Jones some based on photographs actually taken during the campaign in Sinai and Palestine and the scene from the Western Desert in 1941 by Edward Payne make it one of the very few war memorials to have a Grade 2* listing. Time has taken its toll on the stonework and but there is now an excellent opportunity to deal with repairs and to improve the setting of this historic and most important monument.

The Big Give enables supporters to double the value of their donations and I would urge people most strongly to support it and make sure that this Memorial will be there to serve as a reminder to future generations, of the sacrifices that were made for their benefit.”